Teen sought in Lumberton murder by vehicle investigation

ROBESON COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — Lumberton Police are looking for a 17-year-old in connection with a parking lot incident that left a man dead.

According to Lumberton PD, officers responded to reports of a person struck by a vehicle at a business in the 3000 block of West 5th Street around 11:20pm on Friday, December 20th.

When they arrived, they found the body of 44-year-old Billy Ray Huggins in the parking lot. Investigators say Huggins had been struck by a vehicle.

Police later learned Huggins and a suspect, now identified as 17-year-old Jaylan Gray West, of Lumberton, got into an altercation in the parking lot. West got into his burgundy Chevrolet truck and allegedly struck Huggins with the truck, fatally injuring him. Police say West then fled the scene.

West is charged with First Degree Murder.

Lumberton Police are asking anyone with information on the whereabouts of Jaylan West to call them at (910) 671-3845.